On ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day,’ American Indians Should Blame The Government, Not Christopher Columbus
The U.S. government infantilizes and impoverishes American Indians by not allowing them to own their own land.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is often used to draw attention to the challenges facing American Indians. In juxtaposing the holiday with Columbus Day, activists blame modern adversities on Columbus. In truth, the plight of American Indians today has nothing to do with a Portuguese man who died over 500 years ago. The economic and social issues they face fall squarely on the shoulders of the U.S. government — and I’m not even talking about historical wrongs like the Trail of Tears. Unlike Columbus, whose interactions with American Indians ended half a millennia ago, the federal government continues today to hold many American Indians back. Perhaps the most recent example is that of President Biden, who formally recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a national holiday in 2021 while simultaneously stopping them from profiting off of their land.
